WHAT KIND OF HOME?

Part 3

"They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee" (Psalm 9:10).

Are you increasing your vision to build a home to the name of the Lord?

Jehovah-Shalom--The Lord my Peace

Because the Israelites did evil in the site of the Lord, He allowed the Midianites to come against them and they became their slaves for seven years. They destroyed the fruit of their land, confiscated their livestock, and left them with nothing to eat. In their despair the Israelites cried out to the Lord and He heard their cry.

God came to a man named Gideon and commanded him to rescue Israel from the Midianites. Gideon felt too helpless and weak in his own strength and wanted proof that it was really God speaking to him.

"Please don't leave until I bring you an offering of food," he asked the angel of God. Gideon prepared a young kid and unleavened cakes. When he came back and put them on the rock, the angelic visitor touched them with the tip of his staff and fire sprang up for the rock and consumed everything. Gideon was full of fear that he had seen the Angel of the Lord face to face. But, "The Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee, fear not: thou shalt not die. Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-Shalom" (Judges 6:22-24).

Are you building a home of peace to Jehovah Shalom? Turn your home into a home of rest instead of restlessness. Upsets will constantly happen in your family life to disturb your peace. Don't allow any of these things to do get on top of you. Look up to the Lord instead. My favorite "Scripture is found in Isaiah 26:3-4, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." God is bigger than any trauma that happens in your life. When you look to Him and confess your trust in Him He will sustain you. Your circumstances may not change, but peace will reign in your heart and home.

Once again, we see the theme of obedience coming through in this point too. God says in Isaiah 48:18, "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea."

Jehovah Shalom wants His people to "dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places" (Isaiah 32:18). Not only when everything is going well, but "even if the forest should be destroyed and the city torn down" (Verse 19 NLT). This is the kind of peace we can have when we trust in His name, peace when everything is falling down around us.

Jehovah-Tsidkenu--The Lord my Righteousness

We read in Jeremiah 23:5-6 that God's name is, "The Lord our righteousness." One day the city of Jerusalem will also be called by this name (Jeremiah 33:16). If the Holy God is dwelling in our homes, they should also be called, "The Lord our Righteousness."

As we build to this name of God, we will constantly seek to banish evil and uphold righteousness in our home. Although God is a God of love and compassion, He cannot be God unless He is righteous. He demands exactness in weights and measures (Leviticus 19:35-37 and Deuteronomy 25:15). Anything less than perfection comes short of His holiness (Romans 6:23). Of course, we can never come near God's righteousness. That's why we need the blood of Jesus.

However, although we cannot be righteous, except through the righteous life of Christ who lives in us, we should have the same essence about us that God does. He hates evil and loves righteousness and He wants us to do the same. Psalm 97:10 says, "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil."

Romans 12:9 says, "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." To "abhor" means "to shudder with horror, to utterly detest." Is this how we feel about sin? Is this how we feel about evil in our home? Is this how we feel about the evil that is happening in the nation? How does this attitude determine our actions?

It is a powerful thing to build a righteous home. It is not easy. Evil finds a way to sneak into your home. Be watchful as you build your home to the wonderful name of God, "The Lord my Righteousness." As more and more families build righteous homes, the more we become a nation of righteousness. Above everything else, it is righteousness that lifts up a nation. Proverbs 13:34 says, "Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people."

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Oh God of righteousness, please teach me how to build a righteous home. Please expose all evil in my home, even hidden sin. Please bring everything to the light so we can build in righteousness. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

"Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song."

~ B. B. McKinney 

Read also Psalm 11:7; 33:5; 34:14; 45:7; 101:3; Proverbs 8:13; Amos 5:14-15; Ephesians 5:11 and Hebrews 1:9.